*Ahem* Peppermint. That is all.

I-D's Hero Cool Blast is a fairly long-lasting, pepperminty, water-based lubricant. It's slick, not at all too thick, and produces a very cooling sensation during use. For those who enjoy the menthol feeling on their nether regions, this is a great product to pick up. It's also a decent buy for those who are more sensitive to some lubes but looking for a new sensation, as Cool Blast is both glycerin and paraben free. Note, this lubricant does contain peppermint oil, which has the potential to be irritating for some--test it first before use if you're unsure. It is water-based and water-soluble, making for easy clean up. It's also latex compatible, making it safe to use with condoms.

Though the cooling effect may not be great for everyday use, the quality of the lubricant makes this fun to use whenever the need for something chilling strikes.

Cool Blast has an agreeable texture, being neither too stringy nor too sticky for vigorous use. While there does come a time for reapplication, it is not often. The oily residue, though mildly annoying afterward, allows this lube to remain fairly slick and smooth during use and between reapplications.

So far (there will be more experimenting later) this lubricant has been great for solo sessions on both male and female genitals. Its cooling sensation is really rather soothing and builds in intensity throughout use.

The texture of I-D's Cool Blast is not unlike other water-based lubricants. It is relatively thin, but not unsubstantial. While it strings a little, it does not hold together like natural fluids would. During the mirror drip test, it did a decent job of staying in one place. Rather than quickly gliding down, Cool Blast took a leisurely slide of about an inch and a half before stopping.



It has a very smooth texture right out of the bottle and remains smooth even after much enthusiastic rubbing. For some reason, most likely due to its peppermint candy smell, I expected it to get sticky, but Cool Blast remained slick. On the spot test it did need reapplication after a minute; however, that was due to it thinning out, not becoming tacky.

Cool Blast does leave a slight residue due to its peppermint oil. It is nothing too disturbing and it does wash off with warm water (soap helps), but it should be noted. The oil does serve the bonus purpose of allowing Cool Blast to remain nice and smooth right until reapplication or completion. I'm willing to deal with a light oily residue if it means I don't have a foamy or sticky lube to deal with.

The smell! If you like peppermint, this is great. To me, it smells exactly like one of those little red and white peppermints you get in the cellophane wrapping. If you hold your hand at chest height and dispense the lubricant, the smell is apparent and can be quite pleasant. Once you take it to its target area, assuming that is below the belt, the smell is no longer detectable. I suppose if you are spirited enough to kick up a breeze with your movements you could catch a trace here and there.

Don't be fooled by the smell though, this lubricant does not taste like its aroma. It has a sharp, almost sour, taste at first until the menthol/peppermint kicks in. While it is tolerable, I wouldn't call it tasty. It has no indication that it is meant to be edible, so I would take that to heart and leave this out of oral.

I tested this product against my current favorite lubricant, Sliquid H2O. At first, I thought the Cool Blast had a runnier consistency than the Sliquid, but the mirror drip test found otherwise. When equal amounts of Cool Blast and Sliquid H2O were placed on a completely vertical (and clean) bathroom mirror, the Sliquid had dripped further in 30 seconds than the Cool Blast. When an equal amount was placed between two fingers, I found the Cool Blast to string further than the Sliquid, but not by much. I was able to get about an inch of stringing out of the Cool Blast, while the Sliquid yielded about a half an inch. I did a cursory friction test both between fingers and on the back of my hand. Both seemed to last over a minute when vigorously rubbed between two fingers. Switching to the back of my hand, however, the Cool Blast out preformed the Sliquid by a good 20 seconds. The Sliquid lasted about 40 seconds, whereas the Cool Blast lasted around a minute and 2 seconds. What I did find a bit unappealing was the residue. Despite the Cool Blast being glycerin and paraben free as well as water-based, it left a distinct residue on the back of my hands. Where the Sliquid dried smooth and film free, the Cool Blast seem to leave an oil-like sheen on the back of my hand, a bit similar to a silicone reside. Cool Blast, however, washes completely clean with water.

A great feature of Cool Blast is that it does not readily get sticky. It would seem that the peppermint oil helps to combat the unfortunately typical stickiness of overused water-based lube. After vigorous rubbing, the Sliquid H20 gets a bit foamy but the Cool Blast stays smooth. Reapplication does become necessary after about 5 minutes of active use.

Cool Blast is water-based and water-soluble, which makes it a breeze to clean up. A bit of water (preferably warm), and you're all set. Soap, however, is required to fully remove the peppermint oil, should you prefer it gone. The cooling sensation does last for a little after washing. It is very reminiscent of brushing your teeth; you rinse but that refreshing feeling stays behind. If you're a fan of the feeling, it can actually be soothing.

The lubricant is stored in a clear plastic bottle with the name "ID Hero Cool Blast" emblazoned on the front. The flip top is easy to open and close, and features an inset squeeze-top, where the little nozzle has a much smaller hole within it to keep too much lube from spilling out. It also caps tightly enough to be very secure from leaks. The blue, white, and black color scheme is indicative of the cooling lube within. When looking through the bottle, the instructions on the back act as a backdrop for the silhouetted "hero" figure on the front. The clouds and cityscape are fitting for the I-D superman. On the back are product features such as "Water Soluble" and "Gentle Cooling Sensation" fit into speech bubbles; very comic, very cute (and no comic sans to be had!). It gives the standard application instructions, including adding a few drops of water to refresh the lubricant when needed (something I didn't know). There is also a very clear note stating that this item is not for contraceptive use and should not come in contact with eyes or ears. The back panel peels open to reveal the same instructions in French, Spanish, German and, what I'm fairly certain, is Hebrew (it's marked with an "he" above it--please forgive me if I'm mistaken!). It does have the word "Lubricant" on the front in small white letters, but other than that, the bottle is actually fairly discreet.

This product's obvious special feature is its cooling effect, and it does a wonderful job. If you know you dislike the feeling of cooling, just stop now. The more you use it in a session, the more the cooling effect becomes apparent. However, it never felt uncomfortable to either my husband or me.

Another decent feature to note: no glycerin or parabens. This makes it a much more vagina-friendly lube. If you know you are sensitive to peppermint oil or aren't sure, however, test this lubricant first on a sensitive patch of skin like your inner wrist or inner elbow.

I have to apologize, as part of this section will be lacking.

**Incoming TMI**

I ended up with a month-long (seriously?!) yeast infection and had to abstain from full-on sexual intercourse. I dilly dallied on the review hoping to fix myself, but it could not wait longer. This product review suffered in the process, but I should finally have this thing whipped in a week, so there will be follow ups!

**End TMI**

I was eager to get my husband’s take on this product, and he was willing to oblige. I know it's not sexy to be assaulted by questions during use, but it was for the good of the review. It should be stated that cooling sensations are not his thing. He doesn't dislike them, but they don't do a whole lot for him. He started out, and immediately enjoyed the smooth texture. He reapplied twice in 15 minutes, but he also tends to take a smaller amount of lubricant each time. His most amusing comment, when asked how the cooling sensation felt was, "My penis...it feels cold". Fantastic, it's working! He reported no tingling, but no loss in sensation either. He was happy to use it again, particularly for how slick it felt.

My experience will be updated in two weeks!